But I will rally, and combat the ruiner: Not a look, nor a smile shall my passion discover. EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. LEE LEWES, IN THE CHARACTER OF HARLEQUIN, AT HIS BENEFIT.† HOLD! Prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense: I'd speak a word or two, to ease my conscience. My pride forbids it ever should be said, [Takes off his mask. Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth? * [This air was revived and vulgarized in a song sung by the late Mr. Johnstone in Colman's farce of "The Wags of Windsor." Mr. Moore has brought it back into good company; it is to be found in the ninth number of his "Irish Melodies."-CROKER, Boswell, vol. ii. p. 207.] + [These were probably the last verses written by Goldsmith. They were spoken on the 28th of April 1774, twenty-four days after his death.] And shall I mix in this unhallow'd crew? Oh! for a Richard's voice to catch the theme: "Give me another horse! bind up my wounds!-soft-'twas but a dream." Ay, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreating, If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating. 'Twas thus that Esop's stag, a creature blameless, Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless, Once on the margin of a fountain stood, And cavill'd at his image in the flood. "The deuce confound," he cries, "these drumstick shanks, They never have my gratitude nor thanks; They're perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead! But for a head, yes, yes, I have a head. How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow! My horns! I'm told horns are the fashion now." Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free, [Taking a jump through the stage door. |